Cruising into 2020 -- Part III

The following is the conclusion of an interview with Brooke Wilson Jones who is organizing a cruise for lung cancer patients, survivors, advocates, and caregivers.

Dollars, dates, and details

Dusty:How does booking work? Is the deposit needed right away?

Brooke: A couple of people mentioned that they were not quite sure if those dates would work out for them. But they didn’t want to miss getting a room. We can hold rooms for 30 days with no deposit. Once you put your name on a cabin, your $50 deposit is due within seven days. But you can pay for the entre cruise and you have until November 2 to change your mind. It is 100 percent refundable up until November 2. That gives you a good amount of time, even if you’re making payments, to decide whether this is going to work for you. November 2 is our pay in full date.

If they drop the price of the cruise, our price drops to match it. By locking it in, we’re guaranteed that the price won’t increase but it could always decrease.

Travel companions and meeting new friends

Dusty:If someone wants to travel with a spouse or friend, is that okay? How does booking work if someone wants to travel solo? Can people book a cabin for just themselves or request a roommate?

Brooke: The more the merrier! The more people we can get involved, the more fun, the more fellowship we can have. We’re all about sharing our lung cancer stories, whether it’s the caregiver, the advocate or the patient. We want everyone to get involved. So absolutely, travel with your spouse, bring your families along.

However, if you do have to travel by yourself, we already have a list I call the Roomy List. I have a couple of people, men and women, who are looking for a roommate because they want a balcony room or an ocean view room and the price of the rooms are based on double occupancy. There are a limited number of cabins for singles, called a studio room. They cost approximately $1,400 per person.

Preparing for anything

Dusty:What about getting sea sick?

Brooke: Cruise ships have done a lot of improvements to stabilize the ships even in choppy waters. The ship stabilizers help maintain the balance of the room.

If you are prone to motion sickness, you can take certain steps. You can get Sea-Bands or make sure you have Dramamine for sea sickness. You can also pick a cabin that is mid-ship which are less likely to feel any rocking from the movements. But there is always an infirmary onboard with certified staff should you need to see the doctor.

Join us on the seas!

Dusty:How can people get in touch with you or get more information?

Brooke: Anyone interested in learning more about the cruise, is welcome to join the Cruising into 2020 Facebook group or email Brooke at focusedcaretravel@gmail.com.

To learn more about the cruise, check out Part I and Part II.